Muhammad leads Auburn to win

Published: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 10:40 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 10:49 p.m.

WASHINGTON, D.C. ­— Auburn junior Hasina Muhammad notched her first career double-double, tying her career high with 21 points along with 10 rebounds and nine steals, in leading the Tigers to a 69-59 win at George Washington on Wednesday night.

The win also was a special one for Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy, as it was the 150th of her career.

“What better place to get the win than back here in Washington, D.C.,” said Williams-Flournoy, who spent her first eight years as a head coach in Washington, D.C., at Georgetown. “I really did not think about it. When you think about all the accolades and everything you get as a coach, you really don’t remember them when it is game time. Our most important thing was to win the ballgame.”

The win was not an easy one, as the Tigers (7-2) had to fight off several Colonial runs. Auburn took a 13-point lead at halftime and extended it to 16 points early in the second half, but George Washington mounted the first of its comebacks to tie the game up with 12:58 left in the game.

Auburn had used a run of its own to take the lead in the opening half, going on an 11-2 run to close out the period for the 36-23 lead.

After the Colonials (4-5) tied the game up in the second half, the Tigers went on a 10-2 run to pull back away at 51-43 with 9:04 to go. Auburn took a 9-point lead with 5:57 to play, but George Washington mounted another comeback, a 10-2 run of its own, to cut the lead to just one with 4:48 to play.

Auburn responded by scoring the next six points, a 3-point play from Muhammad and a trey from Blanche Alverson, to take a 64-57 lead. The Tigers allowed the Colonials no closer than five the rest of the way.

Muhammad fueled the Auburn offense in the second half, scoring 14 of her 21 points in the final 20 minutes. The 21 points ties her career high and is the fourth time this season to score 20 or more points. She also pulled down a career high 10 rebounds, for her first career double-double.

Her nine steals rank her fourth all-time at Auburn in single-game seals.

Alverson scored 14 points on the night, including three 3-pointers. The three treys move her into a tie for fourth all-time at Auburn in career 3-pointers.

While Muhammad flirted with a triple-double, point guard Najat Ouardad did as well with 10 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. She also picked up three steals on the night.

Four George Washington players finished in double figures, led by Megan Nipe with 13.

<p>WASHINGTON, D.C. ­— Auburn junior Hasina Muhammad notched her first career double-double, tying her career high with 21 points along with 10 rebounds and nine steals, in leading the Tigers to a 69-59 win at George Washington on Wednesday night. </p><p>The win also was a special one for Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy, as it was the 150th of her career.</p><p>“What better place to get the win than back here in Washington, D.C.,” said Williams-Flournoy, who spent her first eight years as a head coach in Washington, D.C., at Georgetown. “I really did not think about it. When you think about all the accolades and everything you get as a coach, you really don't remember them when it is game time. Our most important thing was to win the ballgame.”</p><p>The win was not an easy one, as the Tigers (7-2) had to fight off several Colonial runs. Auburn took a 13-point lead at halftime and extended it to 16 points early in the second half, but George Washington mounted the first of its comebacks to tie the game up with 12:58 left in the game.</p><p>Auburn had used a run of its own to take the lead in the opening half, going on an 11-2 run to close out the period for the 36-23 lead.</p><p>After the Colonials (4-5) tied the game up in the second half, the Tigers went on a 10-2 run to pull back away at 51-43 with 9:04 to go. Auburn took a 9-point lead with 5:57 to play, but George Washington mounted another comeback, a 10-2 run of its own, to cut the lead to just one with 4:48 to play.</p><p>Auburn responded by scoring the next six points, a 3-point play from Muhammad and a trey from Blanche Alverson, to take a 64-57 lead. The Tigers allowed the Colonials no closer than five the rest of the way.</p><p>Muhammad fueled the Auburn offense in the second half, scoring 14 of her 21 points in the final 20 minutes. The 21 points ties her career high and is the fourth time this season to score 20 or more points. She also pulled down a career high 10 rebounds, for her first career double-double.</p><p>Her nine steals rank her fourth all-time at Auburn in single-game seals. </p><p>Alverson scored 14 points on the night, including three 3-pointers. The three treys move her into a tie for fourth all-time at Auburn in career 3-pointers.</p><p>While Muhammad flirted with a triple-double, point guard Najat Ouardad did as well with 10 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. She also picked up three steals on the night.</p><p>Four George Washington players finished in double figures, led by Megan Nipe with 13.</p>